The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-02-21
BOARD OF TRADE.
Movement to Secure Additional EIe-
vator Facilities.
a Commission to Confer With the
Grand Trunk.
Communication from Hon. william
L. Putnam.

Dana, Hon. w. L. Putnam, e. K. Pierce
Hon. George Walker, Sidney w. Thaxter
t. Q. Woodbury., J.. S. Winslow, EbeI
Corey, Captain Leavitt, Postmaster Palmer
Frederick Smith, agent Of the Grand Trunl
Railway, J. J. Gerrish, Capt. Russell Lewis
George Trefethen and others. Presiden
Blabon was in the chair.
The names Of Lucien Snow, +. Il. Booth
by, f. G. Spring, Alfred A. KimbaIl ant
Jerome Rumery were proposed for member
ship. The rules were suspended and these
| gentlemen were elected members.
Secretary Rich then read the following
communication:
Joseph n. Btabon. President Of me board o.
Trade;
Dear sir,-At late meeting Of the Board Of
Trade there was some mention made OF the neces
/ sity for new elevator at Portland and my at
tention has been today forclbly called 10 the mat
/ ter by gentleman, who Is prominently connected
with one Of the steamship lines running into this
port. He assures me, that, II the city OF Portland
desires 70 retain even us present foreign com
given elevator facilities Of much larger capacity
| than the present, and that heavy amount Of
freight has been diverted from this port this win
ter through want OF facilities for handling Ii here
| In 1881 the Grand Trunk Railway undertook,
| In connection with some gentlemen here, q
bring before our citizens suitable plan for an
elevator, 20 be constructed on the harbor line
near the Portland COmpany's works, The details
o. tne plan were quite thoroughly worked out
recollect, the plan failed.
II involved extending piers beyond the Harbor
COmmisSioners' line; and / think an act aulh0riZ-
Ing the extension was obtained.
Mr.. Strout although he was not then solicitor OF
the Grand Trunk railway, can undoubtedly fur
ing on this natter and would cheerfully exhibit
to you the substance Of the plan which was then
One reason for calling your attention 10 the mat
ter at the present time Is, that possibly any plan
which might be devised would require legislative
When Commercial street was extended through
the city with Its main line Of track and connect
ing lines on our various wharves, i constituted.
Iding to my recollection, great advance over
facilities furnished at any other seabOard point.
Our people seemed TO have rested satisfied with
that we have already T iaen Tar Ia the M rear and
that the railroad facilities are wholly insufficient
for any considerable increase Of transshlpments.
tracks Is well known. The movement lately
made by the Portland & Rochester railroad for
ends of the eity across Back Cove Is NAV W. aesd
some relief In this direction; but apparently this
| Is trivial as compared with the great improve
| ments In facilities which seem to be required.
trust what have written sufficiently excuses
me for calling your attention 70 this matter al the
present time As II seems necessary Tor every
person suggesting any movement connected with
| any Of our railroads 10 put In disclaimer ln ad-
vance, l will add here that have no interest In
/ lnlt HldLLtf Whatever except IN tOmnoN Win tuH
citizens OF Portland, and should not venture tc
write you were II not for my recollection Of the
plan proposed In 1881
WILLIAM L. PUTNAM.
Mr.. Putnam said that in 1881, after CORES
pendence with Manager Hickson, Of the
Grand Trunk, a new elevator was decided
upon. The ground plans were made, con-
tracts were closed with the Portland eompa-
ny and the scheme was substantially com
pleted, when it was upset by sudden
change in the money market. II the Grand
Trunk remains in the same mind today plans
for an elevator can be made and the scheme
will be entirely feasible. He spoke Of the
urgent need for more elevator capacity and
called attention to the fact that a large
amount of business Is being diverted from
Portland on account Of the lack Of elevator
facilities. A plan might be adopted similar
to what was proposed in 1881. A corpora
ton would be organized and the Gran
Trunk would make contract to build th
elevator for a certain sum, say. sloo,Set.
Whatever the elevator cost over that sum
would be paid by the Grand Trunk. Then
the Grand Trunk would lease the elevator.
giving stockholders a per cent. the rate
| fixed in 1881 over and above the taxes. A
| certain amount Of stock would be retired
| each year by the Grand Trunk and so In a
| certain number Of yerrs the Grand Trunk
would own the elevaLcr. 1t Is understood
| that the Grand Trunk cannot build the ele-
| vator itself, not on account Of any lack Of
| funds but because its stock arrangements
prohibit 1t from issuing bonds except for
certain purposes
VIZ. Miiliken said that he had talked to
| the agents Of the steamship lines and had
| been assured by them that there are not suf-
| fcient facilities for doing their business al
| this port. He had no doubt that a certain
amount Of stock in an elevator corporation
| could be floated here.
Mr.. Frederick Smith, agent fer the Grand
| Trunk said the capacity Of the present ele-
vator aggregates 10000 bushels; the work
| ing capacity Is about so cars or 5000 bush.
| els that can be discharged in ten hours, and
/ delivery TO ships can be made at the rate OF
1000 bushels per hour. The business done
| the last four or five years has been two 10
three million bushels annually. An eleya'
tor Of 100000 bushels would enable three
| times the amount Of work to be done, az
fOrding more facilities to many more steam.
ers, which would come TO this port where
| cargoes could be readily obtained and expe-
ditiously shipped The company has 5O(
cars on the road between here and Island
| Pond for the lack of storage facilities and
MANY have been unloaded in the Montreal
MAYOR Chapman said that he knew more
elevator capacity Is needed and he had no
doubt that business is diverted from Port
/ land on account Of the lack Of elevator IA
/ eilities. If the Grand Trunk is now dis
/ posed to cooperate with a corporation he
i saw no reason why the plan described by
| Mr.. Putnam would not be successful. lie
| suggested the appointment OF commission
| to confer with the Grend Trunk. Then II
/ an arrangement can be made the matter car
be brought before our citizens through the
/ Board, and the commission, and subscrip.
ton books opened, and all necessary Statt
and municipal legislation In the matter Sc
cured. He was glad TO see the interest tax.
turning point, In regard to the trans-shlp'
| ment Of grain, In the career Of this city
Great railroads are looking towards Port
land as the natural outlet Tor their grain and
i we should do all we can to meet them.
Mr.. Sidney w. Thaxter agreed with the
| Mayor that If anything was to be done 4
| was to be accomplished by cooperation will
the Grand Trunk aud that conference with
that road was necessary, There was nc
| doubt that greater elevator facilities were
necessary, and we ought TO do what we car
70 improve the terminal facilities for ths
nends' The present elevator facilities an, an
very small and the Grand Trunk are com
PEELED to use cars for storage purposes In
| stead Of using them TO transport more freign
here from the west. An elevator Of 10000
bushels. as Mar. Smith had said, would double
or even treble, the roads facilities.
President Blabon said the ground plan
| for an elevator, prepared In 1881, are now a
| the Office of j. Ii. Brown II Sons.
Secretary Rich spoke Of the urgent need o
an additional elevator. He moved that
commission be appointed TO ecnfer with tn
Grand Trunk and perfect plan for the erec
tiOn of an elevator.
He said some people asked what gooC
arises TO Portland from this steamship traffic
One good Is that each steamer line dlsburse
here from $4,000 TO $4,000 a season. Larg
| Chicago houses said they wanted to max
greater shipments here but there we're onl
| one or two steamers week.
George 5. Hunt seconded Mr.. Rich's nc
tion and it was unanimously carried. Tn
commission, partly chosen by nominatio
and partly appointed by the chair, is mad
up OF George E. b. jackson, Weston +. Mill
ken, Philip III. Brown, George 5. Hunt. Jol
+. Blabon and Mayor Charles j. Chapman